First up was a couple of third party titles due for release on the Wii U.
First was Sonic Lost World. There will be a variety of levels, from underground tunnels to structures in the sky, with what appears to be 360 degrees of freedom to move about in.
There will be three different speed levels for players to control Sonic, though I reckon if you aren't going as fast as you can, you aren't playing Sonic properly...
Both the Wii U and 3DS versions will be released on October 18th. In addition, players can create custom radio controlled vehicles on the 3DS version to assist Sonic on the Wii U version.
Rayman Legends has five different worlds, containing a variety of gameplay. There will be the familiar platforming that I assume fans of Rayman have come to expect, as well as rhythm action levels. If the demo and what I have seen are anything to go by, the soundtrack for those is pretty damn good.
Of course, the Wii U version will allow a player with the GamePad to take on a different role as Murphy, to offer assistance to Rayman and his friends by interacting with the environment and such. Oh, and all the stages allow for up to five players, including the GamePad user.
As you progress through the game, stages from Rayman Origins become available to play.
There are other modes besides the main one; Kung Foot, Invasion and online challenges. I'm sure that last one will be familiar to anyone who download the Rayman Challenges App on the Wii U.
There will be a Mario costume for Rayman, and a Luigi one for Globox.
Finally, the game will be released on August 29th.
Art Academy Sketchpad is software available for download on the Wii U, where those who are artistically inclined can post pictures that make you feel bad about your own crappy drawing skills. (They didn't quite announce it like that, but...)
It was released right after the presentation, so it's readily available on the Wii U eShop right now.
Off course, there will be a full Art Academy title for the Wii U with in-depth lessons, but that's still in development.
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds features a black upside-down Triforce in its logo. This is connected to the other world Link can explore within the game. So, there is the world Link lives in, which appears to be the same as A Link to the Past, and then there is another world (which uses the Dark World music from ALTTP, and is the Dark World...)
Link has the ability to become a drawing upon a wall and explore new areas, though I still have no idea how he happened upon this ability. Despite the familiar world, there will be new dungeons and puzzles.
The game is set in the distant future after the events of A Link to the Past, and the Link in this one is not the same that appeared before.
As it's November launch date draws closer, further information will be shared.
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD has several adjustments in order to streamline the experience. These include fine-tuning the Triforce shard collection quest, faster sailing and quicker Wind Waker actions.
This game is set a few months before Phantom Hourglass, detailing the first meeting between Link and Tetra.
It will be released a day before my birthday, October 4th.
As we are in the Year of Luigi, the green 'stache himself was revealed as the next returning character for the upcoming Super Smash Bros. games.
A new community was opened on the Wii U for Animal Crossing: New Leaf, as well as an Animal Crossing Plaza. The latter is basically an Animal Crossing version of the WaraWara Plaza seen on the Wii U's home screen, allowing users to post and share messages and QR codes. Once again, this was another thing that was released right after the presentation, and it is available right now for free.
On to the European news, Nintendo are holding another promotion. This one centres around Animal Crossing; the Welcome a Friend promotion, which lasts until the 7th September. Anyone who registers a copy of Animal Crossing: New Leaf gets a recommendation code they can then give to a friend. If a friend registers a 3DS XL before the end of the promotion, they get a free download code for Animal Crossing: New Leaf. This is only in Europe, but a bit pointless for me as I already have Animal Crossing and no friends.
Pokémon Rumble U will be released on the Wii U eShop on August 15th. You take control of Pokémon toys that have been scattered and are trying to return to their toy shop. There can be over one hundred Pokémon on the screen at once, and all of the six hundred and forty nine Pokémon from the current five generations will be available.
However, there will be some exclusive Pokémon formes and colours only available through a password system. Nintendo will share the passwords through FaceBook, Twitter and the official website.
KORG M01D is a piece of music creation software due for release on the 3DS eShop. It has a lot of features that just went over my head, since I don't really know much about music. However, I do know a Japanese user was able to recreate the Great Sea music from The Wind Waker, and it sounded great. The software is due for release in autumn.
An eShop title called Steam World: Dig combines western and steam punk elements as you control a robot who has to dig and collect minerals. The minerals can be sold to upgrade tools, which allow further exploration of an underground world. The remains of humanity can be found, as well as an evil that threatens your home town. It is available now.
Super Mario Bros. 2 has been released on the 3DS Virtual Console service, and there isn't really much more to say about that. Oh, except that it is the Super Mario Bros. 2 that western gamers will be more familiar with, rather than The Lost Levels.
Now, how about a list of upcoming eShop titles for the Wii U? No? Tough, here they are:
- Cubemen 2
- Festival of Magic
- FORCED
- Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams
- Ittle Dew
- Knytt Underground
- March of War
- Monkey Pirates
- Nihilumbra
- Pure Chess
- Q.U.B.E. Director's Cut
- Scram Kitty and his Buddy on Rails
- So Hungry
- Squids Deluxe
- Tengami
- Teslagrad
- TNT Racers
- Wooden Sen'Sey
A couple of release dates for Europe next: Etrian Odyssey IV: Legends of the Titan on August 30th, and Shin Megami Tensei Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers on September 13th. The 3DS is becoming a great little console for RPGs. Who knows, it may even be able dethrone the DS...
Oh, and Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy will be released on November 8th.
Well, that wraps everything up for thi-
OBJECTION!
Sorry, couldn't resist copying the very same joke they done in the Direct... Anyway, Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright will definitely be released in Europe (yay!), in early 2014...
So, yeah. I wasn't really surprised by many of these announcements, as I had seen them whilst catching up on the various other video game websites I browse, but I suppose this was a pretty nice Nintendo Direct in the end. Of course, there is still the Wonderful 101 Direct that I have to post about, so look forward to that.
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